Newcastle United have held discussions with Eintracht Frankfurt in a deal that would blow the transfer window wide open
Hugo Ekitike of Eintracht Frankfurt
Hugo Ekitike of Eintracht Frankfurt(Image: Getty Images)
Newcastle United are believed to have held conversations on a possible deal for Hugo Ekitike - according to sources in Germany.
Those close to the 23-year-old have suggested that Newcastle officials flew out to Germany last week to see what a possible deal may look like. United's head of recruitment Steve Nickson has been taking the lead on transfers following the departure of sporting director Paul Mitchell.
But there remains caution at Newcastle given the PSR restrictions behind the scenes and the huge asking price for the star - although the deal has not been dismissed. As reported by Chronicle Live on Sunday, the stance from Toon chiefs is that players could have to be sold in order to help raise funds for the star who has an £86m release clause.
Personal terms would also have to be agreed with the forward's agent proving to be a tricky customer during talks in recent windows.
Those talks could continue in Austria during Newcastle's training camp in the Alps. With no media permitted access, Newcastle may try to step things up in the next few days but United have kept a dignified silence on the possibility of what would be a huge deal.
It is also thought that Newcastle would not do something drastic like selling Alexander Isak to fund a move for Ekitike. Whether there is another high profile departure though remains to be seen but signing the Frenchman would scream ambition on Tyneside.
Newcastle are working to see if there is any room for negotiation on the release clause and whether a deal could be spread out or incentivised.
Frankfurt will be open to selling the player if the right bid comes along. The German club's CEO Markus Krösche said in May: "He’s one of the most interesting strikers on the European market. Hugo has to decide that [ed. His future]. I’m glad we have him. If he decides otherwise, that’s our credo. If a player develops faster than us, we let him go."
There is history between Newcastle and the centre-forward's agent the Ekitike camp chose Paris St-Germain back in 2023 when a €28m transfer went through. The right-footed player then ended up failing to make an impact with PSG before a loan to Frankfurt turned into a permanent deal in 2024 as he was eventually sold for €16.5m.
Despite having an outstanding season, scoring 22 times, and helping Frankfurt finish third in the table, the £86m demand from the German club has been deemed steep by Newcastle chiefs in the past.
But there is the possibility of using funds set aside for future windows if Newcastle chiefs see a deal that represents value.
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